The Waiting Room Old Forge’s Most Stylish Prescription for a Great Night Out
Classic cocktails served right.
In a village known for snowmobile trails, lake days, and classic Adirondack nostalgia, The Waiting Room offers something unexpectedly refined: a year-round cocktail lounge that feels both timeless and entirely of the moment.
Housed in a stately 1902 building in the heart of Old Forge, this relaxed yet polished bar blends history, hospitality, and handcrafted cocktails in a way that feels quietly revolutionary for the central Adirondacks. It’s not just a place to grab a drink. It’s a place to gather.
A historic space with a story to tell.
Before it was clinking coupes and swirling Aperol, this building served as the residence and office of Dr. Stuart Nelson, the first permanent physician in the Town of Webb. Completed in 1907, the structure became the literal waiting room for generations of North Country patients.*
We love an expertly made Aperol Spritz.
Dr. Nelson practiced for more than 70 years, traveling by horse and carriage, train, boat, on foot, and even by snowshoe to serve communities from Northern Herkimer County to Long Lake. Naming this cocktail lounge The Waiting Room pays homage to that legacy—only now, the prescriptions are liquid and decidedly more celebratory.
The original wood-paneled interior remains a defining feature. Warm, polished, and intimate, it creates a sense of occasion without a hint of pretension. In summer, the wrap-around porch becomes prime real estate—a perfect perch for people-watching with a spritz in hand as Old Forge hums around you.
A cocktail menu that balances Playful and classic.
The current Winter ’25–’26 cocktail menu leans into both creative signatures and beloved classics. Most cocktails are priced at $14, with select classics at $12, and pricing thoughtfully includes sales tax and credit card fees—an increasingly rare courtesy in hospitality. Just don’t forget to tip your server.
Signature standouts include:
Sunset Boulevardier – Bourbon, Campari, St. Germain. A floral twist on a brooding classic.
Hugh Did This! – Bourbon, cold brew, Kapali, tobacco bitters. A moody, coffee-kissed sipper.
The Seedseer – Gin, lavender, cucumber, lemon, rhubarb bitters. Botanical and bright.
Eve’s Fixation – Tequila, Earl Grey, fig liqueur, thyme. Earthy, layered, and unexpected.
Honey Pot – Vodka, spiced pear liqueur, Lillet Blanc, lemon, honey. Winter in a glass.
The classics section holds its own with a proper Aviation, Paper Plane, Vesper, Pain Killer, Sidecar, and an unapologetically indulgent Chocolate Martini TWR Winter '25-'26 Cocktail Menu.
High test or alcohol free, you can’t go wrong with with an espresso martini.
Notably, the bar also offers an impressive selection of non-alcoholic cocktails and alternatives—from a zero-proof Espresso Martini to a N/A Pain Killer and even a Fluère-based Seedseer It’s a thoughtful inclusion that reinforces the lounge’s stated mission: a safe, welcoming space for all walks of life.
Beer lovers will find local and regional favorites like Sloop’s Juicier Bomb DIPA and Zero Gravity’s Cone Head IPA, plus Guinness on draft. A rotating wine list rounds things out.
Important to note: The Waiting Room does not serve food. Plan dinner elsewhere and make this your nightcap destination—or your pre-dinner ritual.
A safe space with intention.
Beyond aesthetics and mixology, what truly sets The Waiting Room apart is its ethos.
The owners have made it clear: this is intended to be a safe place for individuals from all walks of life to gather without fear of judgment or discrimination. In a region that thrives on community, that intention matters.
The atmosphere reflects it. Groups settle in with board games. Couples lean into candlelit corners. Friends reunite after a long snowmobile ride. The energy feels convivial but never chaotic—an antidote to the louder bar scenes that can dominate resort towns.
What online reviews say.
Across Google and TripAdvisor, patrons consistently praise the ambiance and the quality of the cocktails.
The Waiting Room’s porch is the perfect place for a refreshing beverage in the summer.
One Google reviewer writes, “By far the best cocktails in Old Forge. The space is cozy and classy without being stuffy.” Another notes, “It feels like a speakeasy but without the attitude.”
On TripAdvisor, a visitor called it “a hidden gem with big-city cocktail quality in the middle of the Adirondacks,” while another appreciated the porch in summer, describing it as “the perfect place to unwind after a day on the water.”
Several reviews also mention attentive, knowledgeable bartenders—an essential ingredient in any serious cocktail program.
When to go and where to sit.
Best for date night: Early evening, before 8 pm, when the lighting glows, and the room hums softly. Request a table along the wood-paneled walls for maximum intimacy.
Best for groups: Midweek evenings or shoulder-season weekends when you can comfortably claim a larger table and linger.
Best in summer: We head straight to the wraparound porch, order an Aperol Spritz or a Paloma, and settle in.
Winter ritual: After a day of skiing at McCauley Mountain or snowmobiling the trails, warm up with a Sunset Boulevardier or Eve’s Fixation. The wood interior feels especially comforting when the snow piles up outside.
Because there is no kitchen, peak dinner hours can be quieter—a strategic time for those seeking a more relaxed vibe.
Why it’s special.
The Adirondacks excel at rustic charm. What’s rarer—and harder to execute well—is polished charm that still feels local.
The Waiting Room achieves that balance. It honors Old Forge’s history without feeling dusty. It elevates the cocktail scene without alienating longtime locals. It invites everyone in.
In a building once dedicated to tending the physical ailments of a growing Adirondack community, The Waiting Room now offers a different kind of medicine: connection, craftsmanship, and a moment of pause.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.
*Old Forge is the name of the hamlet and the primary community/business hub located within the Town of Webb in Herkimer County, NY.
Places to stay, shop, eat, and things to do near Old Forge.
Shop for unique Adirondack apparel, gifts and merchandise.
ADK Talks Podcast
Love the Adirondacks? You’ll love our podcast. We take listeners beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of the Adirondacks. We share stories from the people behind the best places to eat, shop, stay and explore in the ADK. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
